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Record-setting warm spell:
Over February 17-22 the Minnesota landscape was widely dominated by warm temperatures. Many record value high daily temperatures, and warm overnight low temperatures were reported from climate observers. In fact hundreds of records were tied or broken over this period. A preliminary county suggest about 250 new daily high temperature and warm minimum temperature records were set over these 6 days.

At MSP and St Cloud five of the six days produced new daily maximum temperatures. The reading of 63°F at MSP on the 17th is the 2nd highest temperature ever measured during the month of February in the Twin Cities (topped only by 64°F on Feb 26, 1896). At International Falls on the 17th a maximum temperature reading of 58°F is the highest ever temperature reported in February from the Nation's Ice Box. And finally the overnight low temperature reading of 52°F at Marshall, MN on February 20th is the warmest low temperature for February ever measured in th…

Record High February Temperatures:Last Friday was a remarkably warm day with many climate observers in southern and western counties reporting daytime high temperatures in the 50s F. Some communities reached new record maximum temperatures for the date including 55°F at Milan, 56°F at Canby, Pipestone, and 58°F at Redwood Falls. The reading at Redwood Falls broke the previous statewide record high temperature of 57°F set at Luverne in 1977.

It appears as though more record high daily temperature records around the state may be threatened this Friday through Monday (Feb 17-20). So far this month observers around the state are reporting mean February temperatures that average 5 to 9 degrees above normal. By the end of the month I would not be surprised to see some climate stations running over 10 degrees F above normal, for perhaps the warmest February since 2002. Several all-time state maximum temperature records may be threatened and I would not be surprised to see a 70°F read…

Brief Return of Subzero Temperatures:
This week saw the return of subzero temperature readings to many parts of the state with the dominance of a polar high pressure system. Most northern and central Minnesota climate stations reported some overnight lows that were subzero. It was -1°F as far south as Winona Dam and Redwood Falls. Many observers measured their coldest temperatures since the second week of January. No daily record low temperatures were reported, but Minnesota did report the coldest temperature in the nation on some dates this week (see below):

Coldest in the nation reports this week came from: Goodridge (Marshall County), MN with -13°F on the 5th Hallock (Kittson County), MN with -29°F on the 8th Crane Lake and Embarrass (St Louis County), MN with -22°F on the 9th

Temperatures are expected to trend in the opposite direction through the balance of the month, averaging several degrees warmer than normal.
Time to Nominate for MCAP Climate Adaptation Awards:In conjunct…

Reversal on February Climate Outlook:On the last day of January, the NOAA-CPC revised its outlook for February for Minnesota, calling for warmer than normal temperatures, a complete reversal from their earlier outlook. This clearly follows the trend of the last year and a half. It appears that the second half of February will more than offset the cold temperatures of the next several days. In addition the outlook calls for a wetter than normal month of February.

Remarkable streak of above normal temperatures in the Twin Cities:
According to Kenny Blumenfeld of the DNR-State Climatology Office and Michelle Margraf of the NOAA-National Weather Service in Chanhassen the warm temperature anomaly in the Twin Cities from September of 2015 through January of 2017 is without precedent......17 consecutive months of above normal temperature surpasses the streaks of 16 months during 2011-2012, and 15 months during 2005-2006 and 1920-1921.